Mafia Lord's Mute Sweetheart

Chapter 184: Chapter 184 Argument

"Oh, you’re still not ready?!"

Daisy almost jumped out of her skin. She spun around in fright, her heart leaping into her throat. Her hand immediately flew to her chest as her heart raced from the sudden shout. For a moment, she simply stared at Jenna, her eyes wide with shock.

Then she slowly patted her chest, trying to calm herself down.

Jenna’s expression became displeased. "What are you doing standing there?" she demanded. "Everyone is already busy getting ready, and you’re still dressed like this?"

Daisy glanced down at herself. She had been wearing comfortable clothes all day because she had been working with the staff. Her hair was slightly messy from the long day and there were faint signs of exhaustion beneath her eyes. She hadn’t even had the chance to look at herself properly.

Daisy pointed toward the stairs and gestured that she was going to change.

Jenna’s face remained cold. "You should have done that earlier."

Daisy lowered her eyes. She didn’t argue. There was no point. She simply gave a small nod and hurried upstairs, one hand still resting briefly over her chest as her heartbeat slowly returned to normal.

Behind her, Jenna watched with an increasingly unpleasant expression. She clearly wasn’t pleased with Daisy’s behavior. But tonight was James’s birthday and there were guests coming. So whatever irritation she felt, she would have to keep it under control. At least for now.

❀┈┈┈┈❀

After watching Daisy disappear up the staircase, Jenna remained standing in the hallway for a moment, her expression still unpleasant. She glanced toward the decorations, then toward the entrance where guests would soon begin arriving and finally pulled out her phone.

She dialed her husband’s number.

It took several rings before Joseph answered.

"Hello?"

"You’re coming, right?" Jenna asked immediately, her voice controlled but icy cold. "Today is your father’s birthday, Joseph. Your presence is important. I hope you haven’t forgotten that."

There was a brief pause on the other end. "I know, I know," Joseph replied casually.

Jenna’s eyebrows pulled together. "If you know, then where are you?"

"I’m handling something."

"Handling something?" Jenna repeated, her patience already thinning. "Joseph, I perfectly know that your plane landed this morning." She looked around the decorated house as though expecting him to suddenly appear. "So where the hell are you?"

"Don’t get worked up."

"Don’t get worked up?" Jenna’s voice rose before she quickly lowered it again, remembering that the staff were nearby. "Your father has spent the entire morning asking when you’re coming. The guests will start arriving soon and you’re telling me not to get worked up?"

Joseph sighed. "Jenna, I said I’ll come."

"When?"

"Soon."

"What does soon mean?"

"Before the party."

Jenna closed her eyes for a moment. "You always do this."

"Do what?"

"You make everything sound as though I’m the unreasonable one." Her voice became sharper. "It’s your father’s birthday. Not some random dinner that you can attend whenever you feel like it. You are his son. He expects you to be here."

Joseph didn’t answer immediately. Instead, his gaze shifted toward the woman standing a few feet away. She was wearing a soft blue dress, her attention focused entirely on the clothes hanging in front of her. She moved slowly along the rack, occasionally taking one dress off the hanger and holding it against herself as she considered it. Her movements were elegant, graceful, completely absorbed in her own world.

Joseph’s expression softened without him even realizing it. There was unmistakable affection in his eyes. The sight made him momentarily forget the conversation.

On the other end of the call, Jenna’s voice pulled him back. "Joseph?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you even listening to me?"

"Yes."

"Then answer me properly."

Joseph looked at the woman in blue again. "I’m coming."

"You said that already."

"And I’ll say it again. I’m coming."

Jenna’s fingers tightened around her phone. "Why are you making me chase you for something so basic? Do you have any idea how much I’ve been handling here today? The decorations, the staff, the food, the guests, everything."

"I know."

"No, you don’t."

"Jenna—"

"No, you really don’t." Her frustration finally spilled over. "You disappear whenever you want, come back whenever you want, and expect everyone else to adjust around you. At least today, could you behave like a member of your own family?"

Joseph’s jaw tightened slightly. "Don’t start an argument right now."

"I’m not starting anything. I’m reminding you of your responsibility."

"I said I’ll be there."

"And I’m asking you to be there on time."

"I will."

"Before the guests arrive."

"Yes."

"Joseph."

"What?"

"Don’t make me send someone to find you."

He let out a short breath. "You won’t have to."

Jenna was silent for a moment. Then she asked, more suspiciously, "What exactly are you doing?"

"Business."

"Business?"

"Yes."

"You flew into the city this morning, and you’re still doing business instead of coming home?"

"That’s how business works."

"Your father’s birthday matters too."

"I know it matters."

"Then act like it."

Joseph rubbed his forehead. "I’ll come, Jenna."

She wasn’t satisfied. "You’d better."

"And stop worrying."

"How am I supposed to stop worrying when you refuse to tell me where you are?"

"You don’t need to know every detail."

Jenna’s expression hardened. "Your father should not have to sit at his own birthday celebration wondering whether his son will bother showing up."

Joseph’s expression briefly changed. He did care about his father. He simply had other things occupying his attention at the moment. His gaze drifted again toward the woman in blue, watching as she finally selected a dress and held it against herself, smiling softly at her reflection.

"I told you I’ll be there."

Jenna heard the finality in his voice and knew pushing further wouldn’t help. "Fine." She paused. "But Joseph?"

"Yes?"

"Don’t make me regret trusting you."

Joseph didn’t answer. His eyes had already drifted back toward the woman in blue. She had finally selected a dress and was looking at herself in the mirror with a small, thoughtful smile. The soft blue fabric complemented her figure, and she seemed pleased with her choice.

Jenna’s voice came through the phone again. "Joseph?"

"I’m here."

"You weren’t listening again, were you?"

He forced his attention back to the call. "I heard you."

"Good. Then remember what today is."

"I remember."

"Your father’s birthday."

"I know."

"And you’re coming home."

"I’ll be there."

Jenna finally ended the call. She lowered her phone slowly and stared at the screen for a moment, her expression hard and ugly. Her grip on the phone was so tight that her knuckles turned white.